Wisconsin coalition demands swift passage of clean DREAM Act

The DREAM Act Now National Mobilization has begun.

All across our great country, groups and individuals are working to ensure the swift passage of legislation that will provide protection to individuals that were brought to the United States for no fault of their own.

We, a coalition consisting of Congregations United to Serve Humanity (CUSH), Forward Kenosha, LULAC Council #320, Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC) and Voces de la Frontera call for the swift passage of legislation to protect these individuals and also seek to acknowledge their vast contributions to our nation.

Per the 2017 study by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, today, over 87 percent of all recipients of the Deferred Action Childhood Arrival program are employed, paying taxes and providing for their families.

They are also, per a 2017 study by the Center for American Progress, creating new companies at a rate more than twice that of our nation’s general population.

In short, this means they are creating jobs.

Over the next 10 years, the ILRC study also found that DACA recipients will add an estimated $433.4 billion to our Gross Domestic Product and contribute more than $24.6 billion to Social Security and Medicare.

They have also all passed repeated background checks, and our teachers, doctors, scientists and first responders. DACA recipients even serve with valor in the United States Military.

For these reasons, and in the defense of Human Dignity, we call for legislation that:

1.     Provides a pathway to citizenship for individuals brought to the United States as children for no fault of their own and who have grown up to become upstanding members in our communities, in our houses of worship and contribute to our economy.

2.     Does not create a second-class citizen by limiting the rights of the program beneficiaries

3.     That bestows immediate citizenship on those serving or who have served honorably in the U.S. Military

4.     Does not include funding for a border wall that both Republicans and Democrats agree would be ineffective and fiscally wasteful.

5.     Does not fund enforcement measures that would include the targeting of undocumented individuals who pose no threat to our nation but seek only to provide for themselves and their families through hard work.

6.     Defends human dignity and upholds our nation’s most revered principle, that we are all created equal.

Public support is on our side. 

A 2017 ABC-Washington Post poll found 86 percent of all Americans want these individuals to at least receive permanent residency in the United States.  A 2017 Harvard-Harris poll found 77 percent of American’s wanted them to be granted a pathway to citizenship.  This includes 66 percent of Republicans. 

There is public support for passing the DREAM Act, and as such, we must make sure our elected officials follow the will of the people.  It is right, it is just, and it is good for our nation. 

As such, we collectively call on our Wisconsin delegation including Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin to get the job done.

#DREAMActNow